Remote control apparatus



June 30, 1931. J. J. VANHORN I REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 22. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q 8 mm INVENTOR an/urn,

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s; I11 thewacecmpanying 'drawings -Eig. l'is eaaa/lsowemboelyimg my invention. I a

I p Lion asishown; dimeets trafficbversltretch Y Y 'extreme positicnto thegother.

Patented June so; 1931' v "'SVIITCH 1&SIGKALCOMPKNY;'QESWISSVALEIPENINSYLVANIA, ammon u more 'A A TUS Application fi eajhp n 22;1'929; seria; s57, 13; E

. JiM yi invention; nmelat'esa utol. remote control 1 Che section: I

;.z;app aa'atus, aand ispariticularly suitable for, 5.32 are; cohnt-ictdacress thetrails; adjacent -tfliongh .anotii limitedato, snoncoded current (530011131'01 aof-irailwaytrafficjgover ing devices, 1 suchzas-si'gnals ands'wltches from .a distant irp'oint. 1

300113 feature ofumyinventionis the pro- "vision o-fnmeans :zfor control-ling signal iridialtionrmeanskover the wires of switch and v ign alpcontrolcircuits v r 7 I} will" :describe two "forms :xOf apparatus embodying nry invention, rand w'ill than (:Pfliflt; cut athe movel features thereof in v-fclaims.

the opposite end ofsections andDf E; respectively. if'BelaY-Rl .iSi provided; with stickrcontrol by a circuit {which includes- 'one .fof'its own .frvent contactscin-jmilltiple with a backrcontact of relay 1 H1. ;.iA"s.slow-c releasing" relay Pflis controlled by re1 ay2R2'.

" Signal arms,yclesignatedby the reference asghere'shown; arei of the semaphore type,

.governiim'ovements oftraflic 'over switch: F. -A1'II lS Slsand S2,.Zadjace11tiqcatioIiEQagcv- I i ern eastbound moves; that is; moves toward the rightyasfishownin the drzwving,v over czs 7 411a diag\1;ammaatic view l-sheW-ing' onev form of switch a .F; normal'ior areversed3;v respectively.

2 is a diagrammatic view showing :mod i fic a-v; -z'bi0fiS' of thesapparatusyshpwn an F1g. 1, and 'l Similar-reference characters refer to sir'm ilar ;P2I;Iit$%dfilf1bi3h views. I

'- respectively.

' :s-apparintusmmbodyingsmyinvention. .Fig. ;".Arms, S3. a'n(1 S4, Ii10unted on-a =c'0mm0n I unast adjacent. location D aggovern westbound moves over switch aliil'normal ,or reversed,

- The circuits for operatingiswitch F toiits reverse iand its. normal posltlons faremc0n keterningiifirsft tofiEi-g. 13a reizerencef trolled by" contacts 159b iandzl59a, respeccharacters ;1 sandm1'a aclesignatethe track icionneotedmv i t-h; a siding. Z7 Joy-"means of a5; usw-itchlF. x-SWiitOh -=F may bedoperated to gsaazhastwb contacts g64 anc1 122 whieh are clcsed l zA'wvhich 'is' operated by switch. F. t

a -,;SWitch 'controlfrelay ;G l and :signal.,-cbn- .;tr0l relayzxHl are;controlled by imafiuatly; operable-iwlevers' V1 arid 1V2, respectively; which be "grouped "with Other sim'ila i,

While iswitchlfi is in vits;gnermal pQSitiOn co'nly amd two contacts 1154: ;511-1-(1 157 which are 1 closed i'Whi'lG switch F is in its reverse positi orr 01 nl 'y..f -A circuit-i controller contact Stretch YwiS divided by insulated [La-into; seotior s -.:and v D'-.E. Each .wof

'; .gthesevsectienseis; provided with a track {cir for 7 eastboundmoves; i-bein'gks, governedi f b' itive lygof.a; slow-releasing ipolarizedzrelay G1,:b'1 t, isirice the form no part of anyzipres-ww j ent ainventi'on', t 'ese circuits, are omitted ifromthe drawing; :vThe :circuitsI for oper atin'g signal arms .pS ;.:are2;c0ntre11ed. @by a slowrreleasing polarizedvrelay H1; the arms the-left, and thejaiinisEfor westboundhiove'g being: governed bythe .polar icontactsqwhea closedutc) the J right. Signal zarms. "S arepalso selectively -1 cclitrolled by, circuit controller;

7'18V6IS in iSOme-si1itable location, sii aforlever. V1 is in" it smi sori 1* positions; 1 respec'-, tiv'ely. Lever V-2jhasanorrx1a1 pdsitioam, and ,a reverse position-"p shown; toJthelft,

mm t-which.' 1is.-s1}1ppl'ied-, with cur-rent byf'a 4an'd9azsec0nd reverse positions, 71 shown to 2:55; )jibatteryiconnected;access the rails adjacent 1 t e zig t'ef. pq it enf m3- "characters 81,52, (same ,.s4,-an 1-whielanm i Lever V2 p a mm f contacts 108 and which are closed only when lever V2 is in its 29 position; contacts 148 and 118 which are closed only when lever V2 is in its 7" position; and contact 135 which is closed only when lever V2 is in its m position. v

A signal indication relay N is controlled by signal-operated contacts 5, 6, 7 and 8 which are closed when all arms S are in their stop position, respectively. Relays N and R1 together control a slow-releasing stick relay K.

An indication relay G2 is operated by current flowing through the windings of relays G1 and G2, switch circuit controller contact 20, and a front contact 17 of track relay R1, in series. A slow-releasing relay 9 is controlled by relay G2.

Indication relays designated H2 and L are operated by current flowing through the windings of these relays in series with each other and with the winding of relay H1. Relay L is so constructed as to be responsive only to current of greater magnitude than is necessary for the operation of relays H1 and H2. Current of sufficient magnitude to operate relays H1 and H2 but not relay L is supplied through contacts operated by lever V2. A branch path controlled by relays R2, H1 and P, or a second branch path controlled by relays R2, H1, P and K, or a third branch path controlled by relays N and K, is at times closed around the winding of relay H1, thus permitting sufficient current to flow through the winding of relay L to operate relay L.

A stick relay T has a pick-up circuit which is controlled by a contact operated by relay L, a second stick relay X has a pick-up circuit whichis controlled by relays L and H2 and by a third stick relay J, and

' relay J has a pick-up circuit which is controlled by relays H2 and X. A slow-releasing relay V is energized by current flowing through a front contact of relay 9 while stick relays T and X are deenergized.

Indicator lamps, designated by the reference character 6 with distinguishing suflixes,

are located adjacent levers V1 and V2. Lamp 61 is controlled by relay 9, and serves to inform the despatcher as to traflic conditions within section C-D. Lamp 62 is controlled by relayG2, and indicates the operation of switch F by becoming ole-energized momentarily upon the opening of switch contact 20 at the beginning and at the end of the operation of switch F. Lamps c3 and c4 serve to indicate the clearing of an eastbound or a westbound signal, respec tively. Lamp 65 is controlled by relay T, and serves as an approach indicator to inform the despatcher when an approaching train enters section DE.

Two sources of current, here shown as batteries Q1 and Q2, supply current to the line circuits and to the local circuits adja cent levers V1 and V2. A third source of current, shown as battery Q3, supplies energy for local circuit-s adjacent switch F. A fourth source of current, shown as a battery Q4 located adjacent switch F, supplies current for energizing indication relay L in the tower when lever V2 is in its m position.

Referring to Fig. 2, modifications of the apparatus controlled by lever V2 and of the apparatus for controlling indicator lamps e3, c4 and 65 are here shown. "It is assumed that stretch Y, switch F, and signals S are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and that lever V1 controls circuits as shown in Fig. 1. It is also understood that relays, N, P, and R2 are controlled asshown in Fig. 1. Relays H1, H2 and L are also 0perated by current flowing in series through these relays as in Fig. 1. Slow-releasing relay U is controlled by relay N. The branch paths around the winding of relay H1 differ slightly from paths shown in Fig. 1, and will be described in detail hereinafter. Stick relays T1 and T2 are provided with pick-up circuits which are controlled by relay L, the stick relays J, T, and X. and slow-releasing relay W of Fig. 1 are omitted. In Fig. 1, stick circuits for relays T and X and the operating circuit for relay W are controlled by a contact of relay 9 but, in Fig. 2, a push button Z; controls the stick circuit for relay T2.

Having thus described, in general, the ar rangement and location of the various parts comprising my invention, 1 will now describe the operation of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawings, all parts are in their normal condition, that is track sections CD and DE are unoccupied, levers V1 and V2 are in their normal positions, switch F is in its normal position and all signals are indicating stop. With the track sections unoccupied, relays R1 and R2 are energized. The pick-up circuit for relay Rl, passing from rail 1 of section CD goes through wire 69, contact of relay H1, wire 71, and the winding of relay R1 to rail 1a of section CD. The stick circuit for relay R1 includes its contact 192 in multiple with wires 69 and 71 and contact 70. It is clear that both the pick-up and the stick circuits for relay R1 are closed. l/Vith relay energized, relay P is energized by its circuit passing from terminal B of battery Q3, through contact 1 of relay R2, and the winding of relay P to terminal 0 of battery Q3. l/Vith all signal arms in the stop position, relay N is energized by current flowing from terminal B of battery Q3, through contacts 5, 6, 7 and 8 which are operated by arms S4, S3, S2 and S1, respectively, wire 9, and the winding of relay N to terminal 0 of battery Q3. With relays N and R1 energized, the pick-up cirde-energizes relay R2, relay P being of a slow releasing type does not at once open its front contacts, and hence a branch path around the winding of relay H1 is momentarily closed passing iromwire 50, through contact 128 of relay P, wire 127, contact 126 of rela Y R2, wire 125, contact 129 of relay K, Wire 130, contact 131a of relay H1, and wire 132 to wire 55. Relay L now again becomes operated by the increased current permitted by the reduction of resistance in series with its winding through the branch path just described. Relay T then becomes energized by its pick-up circuit previously traced, and, upon becoming energized, completes its stick circuit passing from battery Q1, through wire 10, contact 37 of relay 9, wires 38, 87, and 111, contact 112 of relay V, wire 113, contact 98 of relay T, winding of relay T, and wires 80, 13 and 22 back to battery Q1.

\Vith relay T thus energized, lamp 05 is li hted b current flowing from batterv Q1 7 b 4 c; 7

through the stick circuit just traced for relay T as far as wire 113, thence through wires 99 and 100, contact 101 of relay T, wire 102, lamp c5, and wires 103, 33 and 28 back to battery Q1. Both signal indication lamp 6 1 and approach lamp 65 continue on ergized, until the train enters section CD de-energizin relay R1 which in turn deenergizes relay G2 which then tie-energizes relay g. Relay g, upon becoming de-energized, opens its contact 34, thus extinguishing lamp e1. Relay g also opens its contact 37, thus breaking the stick circuits for re lays T and X. Lamps 64 and 65 are thereby extinguished. Relay J, however, continues energized by its stick circuit as previously traced.

In order to make certain that the front contacts of relay L will al ays open again when either of the branch paths around relay H1 opens, a branch path is provided around the Winding of relay L, passing from \ire 47-, through wire 137, contact 138 of relay T, and contact 141 of relay X in multiple with contact 144 of relay W to wire 50.

I will next assume that the despatcher returns lever V2 to its normal or a position, Clo-energizing relays H1 and H2. With relay H2 de-ei'iergized, the stickcircuit for relay J is opened at contact 92 of relay H2, and hence relay J is tie-energized.

If, now, a second westbound train approaches, ale-energizing 7 R2 while lever V2 is in its a position, relay L becomes energized by acircuit passing from battery Q 1, through wires 12a and 125, contact 126 of relay R2, wire 127 contact 128 of relay P, wires 50 and 49, winding of relay L, wires .18 and 47, contact or" lever V2, wires 136, 33, 28, 22, 56, 55 and 132, contact 1311) of relav H1, and'wire 133 back to battery Q4. lVith relay L energized, relay T becomes energized by its circuit previously traced.

Relay T, upon becoming energized, completes a second stick circuit passing from battery Q1, through wire 10, contact 37 of relay 9, wires 38, 87 and 110, contact 11 1 of relay X, wire 99, contact 98 of relay T, winding of relay T, and wires 80, 43 and 22 to battery Q1. 1 With relay T energized, approach lamp 65 is lighted by current passing through the stick circuit for relay T as just traced as far as contact 11 1 of relay X, thence th ough wire 100, contact 101 of relay T, wire 102, lamp c5, and wires 103, 33 and 28 back to battery Q1. After relay L becomes (tie-energized, relay T continues energized by its stick circuit, and hence approach lamp 623 continues lighted.

it, now, while a train is in section DE, the despatcher should again reverse lever V2 to its 29 position for clearing arm S3, relay H1 and H2 become energized by the circuit as previously described except including, around contacts 51a and 52a of relays P and B2, respectively, a branch path through contacts 516 and 52b. Relay l also becomes energized as previously described, due to the closing of contact 76 of relay K which thereby completes for a brief period a branch path around the winding of relay H1. Relays X and J then also become energized by their circuits as previously traced.

T will now assume that with the apparatus modified as shown in Fig. 2, all parts are in their normal condition, that is, sections CD and DE are unoccupied, switch F is in its normal position, levers V1 and V2 are in their normal positions, and all signals are indicating stop. With relay R2 energized, relay P is energized as previously described, and with all signals indicating stop, relayN is energized by its circuit already traced. \Vith relay N energized, slowreleasing relay U is energized by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wire 166,. contact 167 of relay N, wire 168, winding of relay U, and wire 169 back to battery Q3.

If, now, a westbound train approaches, de-energizing relay R2, relay L becomes energized by current passing from battery Q4, through wires 12 1 and 125, contact 126 of relay R2, wire 127, contact 128 of relay P, wires 73 and 163, winding of relay L, wires 162 and 190,contact 135 oi lever V2, wires 191, 178, 23, 55 and 132, and contact 131?) t relay H1 back to battery Q 1. With relay L thus energized, relay T2 becomes energized by its circuit passing from battery Q1, through wires 172, 173 and 1741, contact 182 of relay L, wire 183, winding of relay T2, and wires 177 and 178 back to battery Q1. Relay T2, upon becoming energized, completes its stick circuit passing from battery Q1, through wire 172, contact of push-butpath around said relay in said circuit, means for completing said branch path when said signal changes to proceec, an indication means, and means controlled by said lever for supplying current to said branch path for controlling said indication means.

5. In combination, a railway trafiic governing device, a pair of conductors, an indication relay, a control circuit for said device including said relay and said conductors, means for at times supplying said circuit with currentof sufficient magnitude to cause the operation of said device but of insuflicient magnitude to oper-- ate said relay, means controlled by said device for at times supplying to said relay through said conductors a current of sullicient magnitude to operate said relay, a section of track adjacent said device, a stick relay having a pickup circuit controlled by said indication relay and having a stick circuit controlled by traffic conditions in said section, and indication means controlled by said stick relay.

6. In combination with a railway tratlic governing device, a pair of conductors, an indication relay, a control circuit for said device including said relay and said conductors, means for at times supplying said circuit with current of sufiicient magnitude to cause the operation of said device but of insufiicientmagnitude to operate said-relay, a first and a second section of railway track adjacent said device, means controlled by trafiic conditions in said first section for at times supplying to said relay through said conductors a current of suflicient magnitude to operate said relay, a stick relay having a pickup circuit controlled by said indication relay and having a stick circuit controlled by traflic conditions in said second section, and indication means controlled by said stick relay.

7. I11 combination, a railway traflic governing device, a contact so operated by said device as to be opened for a brief'pcriod during each movement of said device to one position or another, a track section adjacent said device, a track circuit forjsaid section including a track relay, a conductor, an indication l'GlEt, a control circuit for said device including said device contact and a contact of said track relay as well as said conductor and the winding of said indication relay in series, means for at times supplying said circuit with current for operating said indication relay and for controlling the operation of said device, a slow release relay controlled by said indication relay and so constructed as to respond to the (file-energized periods of said indication relay as caused by the opening of said track relay contact but not to respond to the de-energized periods of said indication relay as caused by the opening of said device contact,

lever for supplying said circuit with cur- I rent for operating said relay, a branch path around said relay in said circuit, a second relay controlled by a contact which :is so operated by said signal as to be closed only when said signal indicates stop, a slow release relay controlled by a front contact of said second relay, a back contact of said second relay and a front contact of said slowrelease relay connected in series in said branch path, an indication means, and means controlled by said lever for supplying said branch path with current for controlling said indication means.

9. In combination, a section of railway track, a signal for governing traffic movements into said section, a track circuit for said section including a track relay, an approach track section for said signal, a track circuit for said approach section including a track relay, a first indication relay, a second indication relay responsive only to current of greater magnitude than is necessary for the operation of said first indication relay, a pair of conductors, a control circuit for said signal including said conductors and said I first and second indication relays in series, manually controlled means for at times supplying said circuit with current for causing said signal to indicate proceed and of sufficient magnitude to operate said first indication relay but not said second indication relay, means for operating said second indication relay when said signal indicates proceed, means for operating said second indication relay when said approach track relay becomes de-enenergized,a first and a second and a third stick relay, a slow release relay, a pick-up circuit for said first stick relay controlled by a front contact of said second indication relay, a stick circuit for said first stick relay including a front contact thereof and a back contact of said slow release relay in multiple with a back contact of said second stick relay as well as a source of current and controlled by a front contact of said first track relay, an operating circuit for said slow rerelease relay controlled by back contacts of said first and second stick relays and by a front contact of said first track relay, a pick-up circuit for said second stick relay controlled by a back contact of said third stick relay and by front contacts of said first and second indication relays, a stick circuit for said second stick relay controlled by a front contact of said first indication indication meanscontrolled by a front conrelay and by a front contact of said first track relay, a pick-up'circuit for said third stick relay controlled by a frontv contact of said second stick relay and by a front contact of said first indication relay, astick circuit for said third stick relay controlled by a a front contact of said first indication relay,

tact of said second stick relay, and a second indication means controlled by a, front con- 1 tact of said firstrtrack relay and a circuitincluding a front contact 'of'said first stick relay, and a back contact of said slow re-.

lease relay in multiple with a back contact of said second stick relay.

10. In combination, a railway signal, a relay for controlling said signal, an. indicationrelay responsive only to current of 7 greater magnitude than is necessary for'the operation of said control relay,"a circuit-including said control and indication relays in series, manually controlledimeans for supplying said circuit witl current of suflicient' magnitude to operate saidjcontrol relay but not'said indicationrelay, a tracksection, a track circuit for said section including a track relay, a branch path controlled bysaid track relay and constituting a shunt around. said control relay and thereby permitting said manually controlled means to supply-- suliicient current through the winding of said indication relayytooperate said indication relay, a signal relay energized when said signal indicates fstop, afisecondtrack section, a track circuit for said second section controlled by said indication relay, and-indica'tion means controlledby said slow 'release relay. I v a 13. In combination, a railway track switch, a control circuit for said switch in eluding} an indicationrelay, means con- V trolled'by trafiic conditions for at times l opening said circuit, means controlled ,by

saidv switch for attimes momentarily open in-g said circuit, and indication means connot responsive to the open periods ofsaid indication relay jascaused by said-switch.

a railway track 14.,In combination, switch, a controlcircuit for said switch 111- eluding :an indication] relay, means con- V 7.5 t trolled by said indication relay andrespon- .sive to the openperiods of said ndication relay as caused by said traffic conditions but trolled by traffic conditions for at times 1 opening said circuit, means controlled by said switch for at times momentarily opening said circuit,a slow release relay controlled by said indication-relay and responsive to theopen periods of saidindication relay as caused by said trailic conditions but not responsive to the'open periods of said indication relay ascaused by said switch,

and indication means controlled by said slowrelease relay 5 Intestimonywhe'reof I afiix my signature.

including a second trackrelay, a control (in j cuit for said second track relay including a."

'said'branch path, a second branch path 'in multiple with said control relay and with.

said firstbran'ch path and including a back contact of said signal relay and a front 6011- tact ofsaid stick relay, and indication means i v controlled by, said indication relay. v

11. In a traflic control system, a railway track switch, a control circuit for said switch including an indication relay, a slow release relay having a pick-up circuit controlled by I said indication relay, and indication means controlled by said slow release relay;

combination, a railway track switch, a control circuit for said switchin-f trolled by said switch and means controlled by traific' conditions adjacent said switch respectively for controlling said, circuit, a slow release relay having a pick-up circuit *cluding an indicationrelay, meansicom:

JAMES J. VANHORN; 

